Griggs courier., 1887-07-22

zen and Turchtn were detailed and
placed under the command Of Gem
eral w. +. Smith, the chief engineer Of
the army for the capture Of Brown Fer
ry. Early on the evening Of the 26th Of
Oct. Turchin 8 brigade, with battery Of
artillery. crossed the river at Chatta-
nooga and halted under cover Of the
woods beyond until midnight, when
they marched across Moccassin Point
to the vicinity Of Browns Ferry. At
midnight the troops of General Hazen
embarked in pontoon boats and silent
ly f1oated down the river, keeping close
to the right or northern shore, passing
the rebel pickets they arrived at the fer
~ about 4 o'clock on the morning Of
the 9th. As they headed their boats
for the southern shore they were greet
ed with volley from the rebel pickets
at that station. Making the landing
they quickly disembarked and drove
the rebels from the crest of the hill on
the left Of the ferry road and commenc-
ed the work Of intrenching their po-
sition, while the boats were brought
across to the northern shore for Tur-
chin's troops. The rebels were rein
forced and made an attack on Hazen's
position, but were gallantly repulsed.
The boats we're quickly filled and start
ed for the southern side. As they
neared the shore they were met by vol
leys of musketry from the rebels on the
rightssof the gorge. Quicklylanding they
charged the hill and drove the rebels to
the valley beyond, and the work of in
trenching the position commenced.
AS soon as the last of Turchins troops
were brought over laying of the pom
toon bridge commenced, and by noon
of the 9th the work was completed
and the artillery brought over and plac-
ed in position. On the evening of the
9th Hooker's command arrived at the
head of the valley, going into camp
about two miles from the ferry. with
the exception of General Geary's divis-
ion, who encamped near Wauhatchie,
some two or three miles from Howard's
Eleventh Corps. guarding the road to
Kelly's Ferry. Longstreet, in COM
mand of the forces on Lookout Mount
ain and in the valley beyond Lookout
creek. could from his elevated position
sec all the movements made by the
troops in the valleys below and the
position of Howard 8 and Geary' troops.
Designing and planning night attack
upon the two forces, he proceeded to
get his force across Lookout creek and
between the two Union camps. Near
midnight a furious attack was made on
Geary's troops. General Hooker, hear
ing the sound of the guns, as the at
tack was made started a division to
Geary's assistance. Proceeding but
short distancethey encountered another
detachment of Longstreet's command
and the second battle commenced. Rap
idly pushing the rebels back, Hooker
was enabled to reinforce Geary and for
nearly two hours the battle in the dark
ness continued. One of Hooker's brig
ades made q gallant charge, capturing
a hill that was almost inaccessible by
daylight. The force sent against How
ard was intended to hold him in check
and prevent reinforcements being sent
to Geary until he could be driven back
or captured. and then the combined
forces of Longstreet could be turned
against Howard. The gallant behavior
of Geary's troops and the repulse of the
attack made against Howard decided
the battle in favor of the Union forces.
I.ongstreet then withdrew his force
across Lookout creek. leaving over four
hundred of his dead and wounded on
the field of battle. The work on the
roads between Browns and Kelly's fer
ries was rapidly pushed forward. and
by the 1st of November the new route
was completed and well guarded from
attack, SO that wagon trains could safe
ly pass, thus practically ending the
siege of Chattanooga